I have lost my bug mojo.

I’ve always liked bugs all right. Never loved them or anything, but wasn’t afraid of them either. I can pick one up and place it outside or I can smoosh it and be just fine either way.

I am the one who usually “takes care” of the bugs, since I’m the one here most of the time with the kids. If I ask them to get it, they look at me like I’m crazy. And I have never heard Indigo scream like he does when he sees a bug…he screams bloody murder.

Anyway…now I’m struggling with a bit of paranoia on the whole bug subject. I have no idea why. Ha!

I’ve been dreaming of bugs, bugs, and more bugs. Last night, I dreamed there was a tick on me and when I got up, I ran to the mirror to see if there was a bull’s-eye on the back of my leg.

Whew. No, there wasn’t. Still just the one target.

One is enough, thank you very much.

I feel bugs crawling on me. I yank back the covers…jump and try to get it off. Oh, it was a strand of hair, a napkin…air…no bugs after all.

I’ve always been the brave one. Ask Tosh. I’ve even killed a few of her bugs. Now I don’t want to go outside.

Ever. Again.

I couldn’t right now if I wanted to…I can’t stay awake long enough and I’m not supposed to be in the sun, so it all works out…but I’m sad I’ve lost my bug mojo.

I’ve warned my family that I’m going to be a little vigilant about the whole tick thing. The kids went outside for approximately 5.5 minutes yesterday morning and upon coming in, had to remove all their clothes and do the tick check.

All joking aside, I’m feeling better. Things kind of got worse after starting the medication last Wednesday night, but yesterday I felt a big difference for the better. The pain has eased up quite a bit…I’m still having headaches all the time and want to sleep all day long…so those are the things you can pray about for me. Also, I’m praying that I didn’t go too long without getting treatment~ I don’t want this Lyme junk sticking around.

Thanks for all your sweet comments and prayers…and for the four of you who missed me back.

Our modem isn’t working…so no internet. The cable guys aren’t able to come for a few days.

Vacation is most definitely over.

We did sleep in this morning, feeling that California time…but got back to it this afternoon. It’s been a hustle-bustley night. The choir sang at a conference with Sara Renner. It was really a fun event.

So there has been something I’ve been quiet about…seems I can keep nothing from you, though…because then things just get worse…

Remember that bite I mentioned back before I went to California? What I have kept quiet about is that it has taken over my body. What started out as a silver dollar-sized bite has grown to a ginormous target that has taken over my left armpit/torso area. It is a large bright red circle, rimmed with a white circle, and then another red circle around that. It’s about 6 inches around.

I would show you a picture, but it has started to spread into my left chestal region (is that a word?) and, well, that wouldn’t be appropriate.

Please don’t come over for a surprise visit for the next few days. I informed Nate when I got home from the choir concert that I will not be wearing clothes for a few days.

Sorry, too much information, I know…but I’m just warning you…don’t do it.

Nate called the doctor while we were in California to tell him this thing was growing and looking worse and worse. It became really painful and hard to ignore.

ALSO, sooo not cool with a bathing suit!!! Someone totally tried to play darts on me! OK, not really…but they could have…

So I went in to see my doctor this afternoon. And yep, Lyme disease. I pretty much just laughed because if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that it’s just been one thing after the other.

Here we go! A few days ago, I thought about doing a post called, “Name That Bite,” to see if you could help me diagnose it, but, oh well…I guess that wasn’t meant to be. If I can figure a way to modestly photograph it, I’ll let you know…just because it’s weird and kind of fascinating.

I will be on antibiotics for a couple of weeks and then tested again. Hopefully that will take care of it and it won’t be a big deal.

I have to tell you something funny. Earlier tonight, I put the medicine in my purse and waited until I got to the church to take it, so I could take it with water. When I reached in for something in my purse later, I realized I had taken the wrong medication. I took something that is only supposed to be taken once a day (I already took it this morning) and it makes you sleepy.

A major side effect of Lyme disease is fatigue, so I was hit hard~ double whammy~ woozy, dizzy, and could NOT stop yawning. Thankfully, I had a microphone stand to hold onto, otherwise, I might have gone down.

You just never know, do you.

And now I am off to google “Lyme disease.”

You know that feeling when you’re so sleepy, your eyes go into stare mode with no blinking and you actually have a short dream, whilst sitting upright…only being jarred by that feeling of falling and blinking suddenly, not really sure what you just did?

That has happened to me several times on the flight home.

I have resisted falling asleep because I know what happens if I cave in~ my head will betray me. My head will be acting on its own accord, bobbing out into the aisle, getting continuous bumps from passengers rushing to the bathroom.

Plus, I might even snore AND drool. I’m that tired.

Or maybe snoring is just for the people who have their heads leaning way back. Oh, how I wish I could keep my head leaning way back.

I can’t.

It. Just. Wants. To. Fall. Forward.

Just call me Bobble Head, why don’t you.

I think I get this from my grandmother. When I was little, we would be making a trip and would barely even get started before her head was down in her knees…she would be sound asleep. I would always get a good laugh and marvel at her flexibility and amazing sleeping skills.

That’s what I get for laughing.

I have learned this the hard way on several long plane rides. Unless I can stretch out a little, I don’t need to put anyone through my Bobble Head Action…especially if I know them…I just cannot be taken seriously that way.

My authority will be zilch after the bobbling.

So, I will sit here with my eyes crossing and dream brief weird awake dreams and pray that my head won’t go off without me…

One can only hope, right?

No, the force is too strong.

This post is written by my Mama. I’ve wanted to write about my grandfather, Paka, for a long time, but haven’t been able to…I’ve been more sad about him than usual, just missing him…wishing he knew my children…wishing I could be around him as an adult. He was an incredible man.

Proverbs 19:20 Hear council, and receive instruction that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end..

Proverbs 4:1 Hear ye children, the instruction of a father and attend to know understanding.

When I think of an inheritance from my father, I think of words such as:

Wisdom
Sacrifice
Integrity
Godly
Perceptive
Humor
Talent
Humility

That’s the legacy he left…
I hope I have inherited at least a portion..

The thing that stands out to me the most about my father is the way and how he adored my mother. He didn’t care who knew it. Like I have said about my husband, David, my father also fell in love with my mother when he was 9 years old…smile..

He moved from Texas to Arkansas at that time and his way of showing her his devotion to her was to bring little things for her~ back then they were called “trinkets.” My mother would have them at school or wear a little hair barrette or something and his younger sister would recognize it and say, “Where did you get that?”
So…He was giving her his little sister’s “trinkets”….

He was always an artist, but grew up to become a commercial artist. He was known in our town for painting the swinging Little Miss Sunbeam and he worked for a time for the Coca Cola Company so he painted the Coca Cola Santa, and also the Mad Butcher. He also painted many beautiful sceneries for billboards all over..

He raised our family in church and was a Sunday School teacher there when my brother came home telling us he had received the Holy Ghost in another church..My mother and dad wanted to look into it and both received the Holy Ghost..

My dad loved finding more truth so much that he would wake us up in the middle of the night, praising God from reading another scripture of revelation where more truth would be revealed to him.. He treasured the treasure………

He was a worshipper, long before it became popular. The same lady I mentioned on Mother’s day that I saw at the store, said with tears streaming down her face, “Your dad portrayed a love for God and truth like I have never seen. He truly worshipped
God in ‘spirit and in truth’”… She said, “I think about him when I see young people today and wish they could see him worship and they would feel what he had.”

As a commercial artist back then, he was the only one around who could do gold leaf lettering and he was at the Simmons Bank Building one day and was doing gold leaf lettering on the doors of Lawyers, Dentists, etc. and got happy in the Lord…He had a stick that he used to steady his hand, and started singing and praising God up and down the hall of that building and waving the stick, singing, “I’m getting ready to leave this world, getting ready for the gates of pearl”.. People peered out of their doors, smiling, and wanting to know what he meant about leaving this world…

When my mother passed away, he came to live with us (that’s another story) Smile…By then he had Alzheimer’s and there were days we laughed one minute and cried the next. But always, always, he worshipped God and kept a sweet spirit…Our children loved him so much and he loved them…

He died at our home on Thanksgiving day at the age of 82…

Fathers, you will leave your mark. I know not all have a beautiful picture of that maybe, but you as a father and grandfather can leave a legacy of love for God and truth..

My father taught me day and night how to be a better person and how to love God.

He never allowed criticism of any kind in our home. He was firm and yet, gentle…loving, so comical and yet, wise…

So many stories to tell…Like when someone was stealing his chickens and he, with my mother following closely with him around the yard in the dark, saying, “If you don’t leave, I will shoot you,” and all he had was a broom…I forgot to mention, he was also brave.. Smile…

His life was funny and glorious and sweet and sad..

God will be pleased with my Dad… He will say, “Good and faithful servant”..

Fathers are lovable yet strong..

Don’t be afraid to show your affection, it will be a way for you to teach your children
love and strength…

I didn’t think I could live without my parents, but they were the ones who taught me to carry on in a way that gives me hope for eternal life. Almost everyday of my life, my Dad would greet me with, “Morning, Glory” (as in the flower) smile… After seeing the Lord first, I want to see my Mother and Dad in that resurrection morning..

They wanted me to be saved more than anything… I thank them for that today..

God bless all Fathers and I encourage you to seek wisdom.

Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men and the glory of children are their fathers..

When I married my dear husband, I had a feeling he would be a good daddy.

I had NO idea.

He is the most wonderful, loving daddy EVER.

We went through a lot to have children together: difficult pregnancies, months of me on bed rest, miscarriages, and almost losing Indigo…

Before we ever had kids, he’d say, “I will be happy with just you. Forever.”

I believe he really meant that.

But when we had those babies, he fell madly in love.

I have had the privilege of seeing what an exceptional father he is. He is wrapped, smitten, devoted…crazy over our kids. It was immediate~ as soon as Greyley and Indigo were born, he had a bond with both of them that is rare.

He has this way of looking at them where they feel they are the only ones in the room. The look in their eyes is pure devotion. They are secure in their daddy’s love.

I’m so thankful for that. It’s a huge thing. And it’s something you can’t REALLY know for sure until it happens…until you actually have those children.

Thank God, I got a good one.

We make sure we’re a unified front…what he says, I back up; what I say, he backs up. Our children know not to play one against the other~ it just won’t work.

He keeps things fun and laid back…doesn’t let me get away with too much worry. He holds Greyley when she has a headache and stays up with Indigo when he’s having trouble breathing. He makes sure we eat healthy, that we get outside to enjoy the sunshine, and is always up for a Wii competition.

He shows the love of God to our children on a daily basis. He knows the Word of God backwards and forwards and teaches them. He leads by example…the big things and the little things.

I am so grateful for him.

Happy Father’s Day, Nate. I love you. I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.

There is one thing in this life that I am certain of…my daddy loves me.

As far back as I can remember, his love is something I have never doubted. I realize not everyone is so blessed as I am in this regard. Some have abusive fathers; others don’t even know their fathers…while others have distant fathers who really don’t know much about them at all.

I think my dad might be one of my biggest fans, if not my biggest. He thinks I’m pretty, funny, and still tells me to be careful if I’m driving at night. Until I went to Bible School, he put gas in my car for me every week. When he comes to see me, even now, he will see what I need from the store and go get it…whether it’s toilet paper or salt for the water softener.

I wrote about him a while back and how I call him Fella. He really does know how to do anything…truly…and not just because he’s my dad, but he just really does. He can’t help it.

He makes the best pizza and cinnamon rolls. He makes a strong cup of coffee and loves it that I’m now a coffee drinker. I wish I had been while living at home, so we could have enjoyed that together.

Some of my favorite memories are when I worked with him at Medical Marketing. We would see each other at the office and then go to lunch together…usually Carl’s Jr. Coincidentally, it was at Carl’s Jr. that my dad invented Diet Coke with lime…he was the first one to do that, I just know it.

When I was little, he had to travel an awful lot and I dreaded it so much every time he had to go. For a long time there, he would leave Monday morning and fly in Friday night. I began to pretend to be asleep so I wouldn’t have to say good-bye. I remember that feeling to this day…the thought of him going…it was awful.

I hate living far from him. I would love to have coffee with him every morning and work on the garden with him~ he can grow anything…I would love to sit outside with him and just be.

He’s just good to be around.

He’s been through a lot…a whole lot…and this past year has been really hard on him. He has had 2 back surgeries in less than a year. It has been so difficult to not be close enough to be there all the time and so sad to know he’s in pain. I want so badly for him to be healthy and happy…and for this to be a time for him to not have to worry about anything.

I love you, Dad E./Tomas/Papa. You are the best. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for all that you give and all that you do. I remember everything.

My hope for you this year is that you will be blessed over and above what you could even imagine or expect. My prayer is that you will have great health, a great job, and an even greater peace hovering over you.

Happy Father’s Day.

Love,
Winnie

I love California for the obvious reasons~ the beach, the mountains, the sunshine…

Indigo loves how all the cars go really fast.

Greyley and Indigo both love how all the cars look brand new. Every time we get in the car, one of them will comment on how every car is new.

We eventually passed a worn Ford Aerostar and I said, “Children, look to the right, we are passing an OLD car!!!”

They gasped. It was the first old car sighting in 8 days…a shock to their little systems.

Indigo has decided he wants a new car. Already the allure of money has won him over here…we’re on a downward slope, I just know it.

Greyley loves how there is water everywhere. She is not the least bit intimidated by the freezing cold water of the Pacific. She jumps right in those waves and swims, while all the Californians stick their pinky toe in and shrink back.

“This is nothing for us Minnesotans,” she says.

I’ll tell you what else I love~ toilet seat covers!

You want to know what was a shock to MY system? When I went to college in Indiana and realized having toilet seat covers is NOT a law. I was appalled~ isn’t it a law that we MUST have SEAT COVERS???!!! No…in fact, it is the exception to have them at all…it isn’t a law.

How mortifying.

I have gotten into the habit of laying out a toilet paper makeshift cover and it just gives me delight to go ahead and push that on into the water while grabbing a fresh seat cover.

It’s the little things, people…they mean a lot.

There is one thing that gets on my nerves though…

I sort of overheard this conversation today outside the grocery store. It was 2 ladies and they were so put out…about the weather.

“It keeps changing up on us!” Lady #1 said.

“I know,” Lady #2 shook her head and sighed.

“First it was 76º…then 73º..and now, it’s like, 78º!!!” says Lady #1.

I wanted to, like, go bop them on the, like, head and tell them to, like, be grateful and stuff, for the, like, fabulous weather they enjoy on a, like, regular basis.

Puhleeze.

Excuse me while I go gag.

So, besides the really spoiled people, California is super great.